TORONTO – The Toronto Rock and Les’s Fund are teaming up to sell seats for the 2006 National Lacrosse League All-Star game to raise money for cancer research.
Bartley’s Bleachers seats in the upper-bowl of the Air Canada Centre for the Feb. 25 All-Star Game (beginning at 4 p.m.) could raise over $20,000 for charity if they sell out. The money raised will be equally distributed to the Les’s Fund beneficiaries: Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Wellspring Cancer Support Centre, Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation and the Durham Regional Cancer Cancer.
Last summer, the National Lacrosse League community raised an unprecedented level of donations through Les’s Fund, the official cancer fighter of the Toronto Rock and the National Lacrosse League, which collects money and donates all proceeds to cancer research. To date, the lacrosse community has raised a total of $60,000 for cancer charities.
A new combined initiative of Bartley’s Bleachers seats for the 2006 NLL All-Star Game and an auction of NLL team jerseys and collectibles aims to raise another $30,000.
To date, the following game-weight jerseys have been donated for the Feb. 25 auction:
NLL All-Star team;
Arizona (tbc);
Calgary;
Buffalo;
Colorado;
Edmonton;
Minnesota;
Philadelphia;
Portland;
Rochester;
San Jose; and
Toronto
For more details, please read the Bartley’s Bleachers story on www.sportcares.ca. You can also get your tickets directly through this link: www.ticketmaster.ca/promo/23350. Simply follow the directions and use the password 4LES to ensure that your ticket money will go to the fight against cancer.
For group orders of 10 or more (on 1 credit card), Ticketmaster surcharges do not apply if you contact Stephanie at skaman@torontorock.com or call her at 416-596-3075 ext. 223. Ask for Bartley’s Bleachers and tell her that Jarrett sent you.
Backgrounder on fund-raising for Les’s Fund
In July 2005 the fans of the NLL gathered in Whitby to play for the 2005 Fann Cup in memory of Les Bartley and raised $5,500 for the Durham Regional Cancer Centre. In total, lacrosse fans have raised $60,000 at a grassroots level for cancer charities across North America.
This is a great way to remember Les and everyone who has battled or is battling this disease. Your help would be greatly appreciated in this matter.
It is through the generosity of Brad Watters and the Toronto Rock that you can purchase your Bartley’s Bleachers All-Star Game Tickets, located in Sections 310-312, with the proceeds going directly to Toronto and Durham Cancer Charities and Support services.
For more information on Les’s Fund or Bartley’s Bleachers, please contact:
Jarrett Harris
(647) 436-9303
jarecanada@yahoo.ca.
BACKGROUNDER
What is Les’s Fund/Lacrosse Fans Fighting Cancer?
Jarrett Harris
It started as a gesture of support to late Toronto Rock Coach and GM Les Bartley after finding out he had cancer. Les’s Fund is a grassroots not-for-profit effort by the fans that raises money in lacrosse communities across North America. All of the money raised by Les’s Fund and Lacrosse Fans Fighting Canceractivites are donated to cancer charities in the community where event occurs. The money stays were it’s raised.
Today Les’s Fund and Lacrosse Fans Fighting Cancer remain as lacrosse fans supporting the fight against cancer in their community. Per Les’s wishes, we work with cancer charities to raise awareness for cancer research and prevention.
After two years, Les’s Fund and the Sportcares.ca family of fund-raisers have gathered nearly $60,000 for Toronto cancer charities and charities throughout North America.
Here’s how we did it:
Year 1 (2004)
Through the generosity of the Toronto Rock, the efforts of school children making Lisa’s Bead and the generosity of the lacrosse community providing items for online auctions. Les’s Fund raised over $35,000. In February of 2004, NLL commissioner Jim Jennings made Les’s Fund the NLL’s official Cancer Fighter in raising money to fight cancer.
Last year (2005)
Les passes away after the Rock win the Championship.
Prior to his passing, Les’s Fund activities raised over $12,000 at Rock games through Lisa’s Beads and Princess Margaret Bracelets.
Les’s Fund attends the Brian Shanahan Lacrosse Program and the kids eagerly learn about Les and how to get their own Lisa’s Beads Bracelet!
The Fann Cup Lacrosse Tournament played in Les’s name raised another $9,000 for the Durham Regional Cancer Centre and Casey Zaph Fund. (The Durham Regional Cancer Centre will be putting a memorial engraving on the wall as a result of the donation in memory of Les). For more information please visit www.fanncup.com.
With the assistance of Harris and friends, the CFL Fans Fight Cancer group started this past year and raised an additional $5,000 for cancer charities in Hamilton and Toronto.
The Vision for year 3.
Les’s Fund was started by lacrosse fans to support Les, his family and everyone fighting cancer. Before Les died, he told me his vision was for Les’s Fund growth, raising awareness in the Lacrosse community and additional money for cancer research, family and surviour support.
Bartley’s Bleachers is the next step, and thanks to the fans Les’s Fund is the official cancer charity of the NLL and has no intentions of stopping.
